Trend of the Week: Nine ways to wear homegrown Irish designs

Today’s Irish female designers share a unique understanding of the female narrative.

Fri, 05 Mar, 2021 - 06:00

Annmarie O’Connor

Nuanced, layered and diverse; their collective interpretation of what women want to wear has created delicious plots twists and infinite talking points.

Although aesthetically different, the tone is beautifully congruent: romantic yet irreverent; classic yet subversive; contemporary yet rooted in the stories of the past. We’ve got nine of our favourite page-turners here.

THE EDIT:

Andrea Horan in Natalie B. Coleman, cutting a divine figure as Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Photo: Bríd O'Donovan, full credits at the end of the article

Natalie B Coleman ivory ruched ‘Aphrodite’ dress with hand embroidered lover detailing from SISTER / MOTHER / GODDESS collection, €3,000; Kurt Geiger leopard print kitten heels, €170 from Brown Thomas

‘Brandy’ houndstooth pleated skirt, Rixo, €318

Silk taffeta fashion face coverings, Natalie B Coleman, €25

‘Virgin Earwear’ earrings, Melissa Curry, €65

Silk crepe ‘Twisted Sword’ scarf, Natalie B Coleman, €250

‘El Capitan’ cardigan, Zoë Jordan, £275; €318.17

Simone Rocha x H&M bag, H&M, €59.99 (available March 11th)

Simone Rocha x H&M trench coat, H&M, €179 (available March 11th)

Joanne Hynes ‘Everything Can Become A Fairy Tale’ appliqué shawl collar, €59.03, Dunnes Stores

STYLE NOTES:

NATALIE B COLEMAN: Drives a female-centric narrative with powerful digital prints, intricate craftsmanship and ineffable cool.
JOANNE HYNES: Experiments with proportions, fabric combinations and embellishment for her aspirational yet affordable Dunnes Stores range.
ZOË JORDAN: Balances the androgynous with the feminine; the structured with the effortless; and the classical with wit and natural confidence.
SIMONE ROCHA: Subverts the idea of the feminine spirit with voluminous silhouettes and directional tailoring. Look out for the hotly tipped H&M collaboration on March 11th.
MELISSA CURRY: Celebrates colour and form through sculptural, multi-functional jewellery that are offer a variety of styles within a piece.

LEAD PIC CREDITS:

Jewellery: Victorian sapphire and diamond snake crossover, €2,950; 1960s diamond bombe ring €7,950; Victorian rugby and diamond stripe ring in 18kt yellow gold, €6,950; 18kt yellow gold diamond star signet ring €1,000; 1960s coral and diamond swirl cluster ring, €2,500; 1890s five stone opal ring in 18kt yellow gold €2,950; Art Deco aquamarine and Burmese ruby cocktail ring, €14,950; Sardonyx cameo ring in 18kt yellow gold, €1,950, all Courtville by Matthew Weldon.

Design Team: designer Natalie B Coleman; interns Una Curran, Shane Nolan, Lia Cowan

Creative Team: photographer Brid O’Donovan; stylist Aisling Farinella; make-up Sarah Lanagan; nails Kate O’Brien @ Tropical Popical; hair Ronan Patterson @theface Galway; photography assistant Melanie Mullan; stylist assistant Hannah Monaghan

Model: Andrea Horan as Aphrodite: Goddess of Love and Beauty/Alchemical Goddess Lover/Creative Person

Shot on location with special thanks to the staff at MOLI/Museum of Literature Ireland, moli.ie; UCD Naughton Joyce Centre, 86 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2

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